Matthew 21:16

Amharic New Standard Translation (አማርኛ አዲሱ መደበኛ ትርጉም) 2005

ስለዚህ ኢየሱስን “እነዚህ ሕፃናት የሚሉትን ትሰማለህን?” አሉት፤ እርሱም “አዎ፥ እሰማለሁ፤ ‘ከልጆችና ከሚጠቡት ሕፃናት አፍ ምስጋናን አዘጋጀህ’ የሚለውን ከቶ አላነበባችሁምን?” አላቸው፤

What Does This Mean?

In this verse, Jesus is responding to people who are upset by the praises of children. He reminds them that God has always valued praise from even the youngest believers. The key message is that God finds great value in the simple faith and praise of children.

Explained for Children

Imagine you're playing with your toys when suddenly, some kids start singing a song about how much they love their parents. Some grown-ups think it's silly, but Jesus says, 'Don't underestimate those songs! Even from little ones like them, God finds the most beautiful praise.'

Historical Background

Matthew wrote this Gospel around A.D. 80-90 for a predominantly Jewish-Christian audience in Antioch. The cultural setting was one where adults often held high regard for their own wisdom and looked down on children's opinions.

Living It Out Today

Imagine you're at a work meeting and a new, inexperienced team member shares an idea that others dismiss. But their fresh perspective turns out to be innovative and valuable. This verse reminds us not to undervalue the contributions of those we might overlook simply because of their age or experience.

Topics

• faith
• praise
• children
• wisdom
• God's value system
• humility

Related Verses

• Psalms 8:2
• 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
• Mark 10:13-16
• Luke 18:15-17
• Hebrews 5:14

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Jesus refer to children's praise as perfected praise?

Jesus uses this phrase to highlight that God values the sincerity and simplicity of children’s faith, which is pure and unadulterated by worldly concerns or skepticism.

How should we treat the opinions and contributions of children in our community?

We should respect and value their perspectives, recognizing that even young voices can offer meaningful insights and praise to God.

What does this verse tell us about humility before God?

This verse teaches that humility involves valuing all forms of worship, especially the sincere expressions from those who may be overlooked due to their youth or perceived lack of experience.

How can understanding Matthew 21:16 impact our parenting?

It encourages parents to foster and value the spiritual development and faith expressed by children, recognizing that God delights in their innocent praise.